| Title: | Sustainable Development |
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| Long Title: | Principles of Sustainable Development |
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| Field of Study: |
Interdisciplinary Engineering
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| Valid From: |
Semester 1 - 2011/12 ( September 2011 ) |
| Module Coordinator: |
MICHAEL J O MAHONY |
| Module Author: |
NOEL DUFFY |
| Module Description: |
This module introduces sustainable development (sustainability) as an integrated consideration of environmental, economic and social issues. |
| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
| LO1 |
Describe the three pillars of sustainable development |
| LO2 |
Discuss the interdependencies of elements of an ecosystem. |
| LO3 |
Discuss international examples of sustainable development programmes in different countries or regions. |
| LO4 |
Critically assess the achievement of sustainability in a community, region or country. |
| Pre-requisite learning |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named CIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s). |
| No recommendations listed |
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list. |
| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
|
| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section. |
| No requirements listed |
Co-requisites
|
| No Co Requisites listed |
Module Content & Assessment
| Indicative Content |
|
Fundamentals of sustainable development
Pillars of sustainability. Examples of threatened areas, resources, biosystems. Examples of failed societies. Climate change as an example of systemic change: causes, impacts, responses. Significance for energy systems.
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Ecosystems / ecology
Interaction between elements of an ecosystem. Interaction between ecosystems. The role of energy. Major elemental cycles. Threats, changes and damage to global and regional systems.
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Indicators of sustainability
Frameworks for measuring sustainability: pressure - state - response; driving forces - pressure - state - impact - response. Bellagio principles. Extension of sustainability assessment to institutional (governance) indicators, themes and sub-themes. National performance.
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Ireland's performance
National sustainable development plan. Measuring progress. Comparison between plan and performance. Comparison with international plans and performance.
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Sustainable communities in the 21st century
Communities as systems: energy, food, waste management, economic structure, social balance, interactions with other systems. Local Agenda 21.
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
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| Course Work | 100.00% |
| Course Work |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Presentation |
Discuss an example of a failed or severely threatened system or society. |
1,2 |
15.0 |
Week 3 |
| Short Answer Questions |
Scope and significance of ecosystems |
2 |
25.0 |
Week 6 |
| Written Report |
Critical assessment of a region or nation's sustainability programme, with further reference to Ireland |
3,4 |
20.0 |
Week 10 |
| Short Answer Questions |
Review of module content |
1,2,3,4 |
40.0 |
Sem End |
| No End of Module Formal Examination |
| Reassessment Requirement |
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.
|
The institute reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Workload Description |
Hours |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
Topics will be presented and discussed in an interactive manner to engage the student. |
3.0 |
Every Week |
3.00 |
| Tutorial |
Students will present and discuss their findings from reading assigned material |
1.0 |
Every Week |
1.00 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Students are required to examine specified information sources and prepare summaries for their own use and sharing with others. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Students will reflect on their learning by free reading |
1.0 |
Every Week |
1.00 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
4.00 |
| This module has no Part Time workload. |
Module Resources
| Recommended Book Resources |
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- Mulder, K. (Ed) 2006, Sustainable development for engineers, Greenleaf Publishing Ltd UK [ISBN: 978-1-874719-19-9]
| | Supplementary Book Resources |
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- Godfrey Boyle (Editor), Bob Everett (Editor), Janet Ramage (Editor) 2003, Energy Systems and Sustainability (Paperback), Oxford University Press [ISBN: ISBN-10: 0199261792]
- United Nations, Dept of Economic & Social Affairs 2007, Indicators of Sustainable Development: guidelines and methodologies, 3rd Ed., United Nations [ISBN: 978-92-1-104577-2]
| | Supplementary Article/Paper Resources |
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- Comhar 2007, Counting what counts: a review of sustainable development indicators for Ireland
- Comhar 2006, Conference proceedings: Towards sustainability in the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013
- Comhar 2007, SWOT analysis of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2007 - 2020
- Comhar 2002, Principles for sustainable development
- Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government 2002, Making Ireland's Development Sustainable
- Doran, P., Comhar 2007, Research Project: sustainable consumption & production - the state of the art
| | Other Resources |
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- Website: Comhar Sustainable Development Council
- Website: European CommissionEuropean Sustainable Development
Strategy
- Website: Department of Environment, Heritage & Local GovernmentDepartment of Environment, Heritage
& Local Government
- Website: United Nations Commission for Sustainable Developmentn/a
- Website: European Environment Agency
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Module Delivered in
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